The embattled top aide to former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard is due back in federal court March 22, when he is expected to plead guilty to the charge that he failed to report a felony taking place in Broussard's administration, according to new court documents filed this morning. Tim Whitmer, who served as the parish's No. 2 executive from 1998 to 2010, faces one count of misprision of a felony. He is scheduled to appear before Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon at the Hale Boggs Federal Building.

John McCusker/The Times-PicayuneTim Whitmer arrives at federal court for his first arraignment.

Whitmer, 51, began cooperating with federal investigators after media reports in 2009 showed an insurance agency managed by his wife, Dawn, did business with parish contractors and government entities while Whitmer and Broussard ran the parish government. Dawn Whitmer hasn't been charged with a crime.

After entering a not guilty plea last month, Whitmer will change that, his attorney, Pat Fanning has said.

Broussard, along with former Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson, are set to stand trial in May for their roles in an alleged payroll fraud scheme that benefitted Broussard's ex-wife, Karen Parker. Parker has already pleaded guilty to misprision and is scheduled to be sentenced July 27.

Whitmer rose from a part-time groundskeeper for the parish's recreation department to become its most powerful appointed official under parish presidents Tim Coulon and Broussard. He resigned Jan. 4, 2010 under intense public pressure.

The timing of his exit meant that he missed out on roughly $850,000 of his pension, because he left before reaching 30 years on the job. Still, he can collect at least $170,000 a year - based on a calculation accounting for his salary during his last three years in office - when he turns 55.